All of this has created widespread insecurity and unease at The Inquirer. Some employees say that the threats of new layoffs, perhaps of 150 workers, is a bargaining tactic meant to scare the newsroom into making other concessions to avoid such a loss.

Management has not officially informed the Guild of any need to cut 150 people, but it has told the union that the company wants to freeze contributions to employee pensions and to eliminate the seniority system at the paper.